Library to sponsor Soul Food Contest

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 6:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 6:22 p.m.

If your dream menu includes such Southern classics as turnip greens, pigs’ feet, black-eyed peas and chitterlings, plan on dining from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Arthur Green Room at Convention Hall for the Gadsden Public Library’s Soul Food Contest.

East Gadsden Library Branch Manager LaShunda Williams said she hopes registration will pick up by Friday’s deadline, and that this year will equal the 15 to 18 entries the library had in 2011, when it last held the competition.

“It was really standing room only the last time,” Williams said. “I hope they flood in by Friday.”

This will be the third time the library has hosted the contest.

Williams said there are four categories: meat, vegetables, breads and desserts. There is no registration fee, but pre-registration is required by Friday at the library’s main, East Gadsden or Alabama City branches.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners. There will be a $1 charge to taste samples of the entries.

Williams said The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County also is sponsoring the contest this year.

Other dishes entered in the last contest included neck bones and cornbread and greens.

‘I want some ‘chitlins’ and cole slaw, but I doubt anybody will make it,” Williams said. “If somebody made some pig tails and greens, that would be good.”

Also in conjunction with Black History Month, the library is sponsoring a traditional and contemporary gospel musical program Feb, 18 by Johnny Flenoir and Friends, and a program Feb. 25 by Sam Pugh of the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum on the Freedom Riders, including the bus burning near Anniston. Both events will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Lena Martin Room at the library’s main branch.

Monday, the library along with Quality of Life Health Services sponsored a health fair.

<p>If your dream menu includes such Southern classics as turnip greens, pigs' feet, black-eyed peas and chitterlings, plan on dining from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Arthur Green Room at Convention Hall for the Gadsden Public Library's Soul Food Contest.</p><p>East Gadsden Library Branch Manager LaShunda Williams said she hopes registration will pick up by Friday's deadline, and that this year will equal the 15 to 18 entries the library had in 2011, when it last held the competition. </p><p>“It was really standing room only the last time,” Williams said. “I hope they flood in by Friday.”</p><p>This will be the third time the library has hosted the contest.</p><p>Williams said there are four categories: meat, vegetables, breads and desserts. There is no registration fee, but pre-registration is required by Friday at the library's main, East Gadsden or Alabama City branches.</p><p>Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners. There will be a $1 charge to taste samples of the entries.</p><p>Williams said The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County also is sponsoring the contest this year.</p><p>Other dishes entered in the last contest included neck bones and cornbread and greens.</p><p>'I want some 'chitlins' and cole slaw, but I doubt anybody will make it,” Williams said. “If somebody made some pig tails and greens, that would be good.”</p><p>Also in conjunction with Black History Month, the library is sponsoring a traditional and contemporary gospel musical program Feb, 18 by Johnny Flenoir and Friends, and a program Feb. 25 by Sam Pugh of the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum on the Freedom Riders, including the bus burning near Anniston. Both events will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Lena Martin Room at the library's main branch.</p><p>Monday, the library along with Quality of Life Health Services sponsored a health fair.</p>